Ten Severely Wounded IDF Soldiers get Uplifted in NY Trip

Sunday, 5 May, 2013 - 4:57 am

One of the 10 severely wounded Israeli soldiers on a Chabad-sponsored trip to New York admitted that he was "high."

By COLlive reporter
Photos by Bentzi Sasson

Captain Ziv Shilon, a platoon commander in Givati Brigade of the Israel Defense Forces, was severely injured 6 months ago when a roadside bomb planted by Hamas terrorists exploded during a routine patrol. Doctors had to amputate one of his arms and the other is totally crushed.

Shilon and 9 other severely wounded soldiers and victims of terror are in New York for 10 days of therapy and fun on a trip sponsored by Chabad Israel Center of the Upper East Side, under Rabbi Urieland Shevy Vigler.

The project is called "Belev Echad" (with one heart) and regularly organizes trouble and worry-free trips to the United States for severely wounded IDF soldiers and victims of terror.

Speaking this week at a welcome reception honoring 10 severely wounded IDF soldiers at the Chabad Israel Center, Shilon said: "My greatest wish is to be able to return to the IDF and to continue protecting Am Yisrael."

The soldiers are accompanied by Rabbi Menachem Kutner and Rabbi Yossi Swerdlov of Chabad Terror Victims Project who deal with these soldiers year round in Israel .

Joining them at the reception was the Israel's military attache in the U.S., Major General Yaacov Ayish who cancelled his appointments in Washington so that he can spend time with these brave heroes.

Addressing them were Rabbi Benzion Krasnianski of the Chabad of the Upper East Side and Israel's Consul General in New Yprk Ido Aharoni.

Nati Hatzkor, who had his leg blown off from a missile right before Operation Cast Lead, mentioned this week that words cannot describe the pain and agony that he experiences on a daily basis.

He has to medicated marijuana for his pain and he joked and said, "I don't know if I am on a high from the marijuana or from this incredible Belev Echad trip. However every day he forces himself to smile and be happy because if there is one day that he is sad and upset that day is a victory for the terrorists who did this to him."